Residents upset over access road

PETALING JAYA: Residents in Section 22 staged a peaceful protest yesterday against the developer of a condominium project which they fear will turn their neighbourhood into a congested area.

About 300 people gathered in front of the Paramount View condominium project site and carried placards objecting to the development.

The residents were upset that the developer was going ahead with the building of the main access road to the condominium along Jalan SS1/25 despite a stop-work order issued by the Petaling Jaya City Council.

They said the access road would add to the traffic congestion along Jalan SS1/25.

Petaling Jaya councillor S. Ramakrishnan, who was present at the gathering, said the council had only allowed roads to be built along Jalan SS1/26 and not along Jalan SS1/25.

"The matter will be discussed next Thursday with the relevant authorities," said Ramakrishnan.

Residents also threatened to build a wall to prevent vehicles from the condominium going through Jalan SS1/25 and Jalan 22/44 if the developer continues to disregard their request.

They claimed that the development work had led to cracks in their houses.

Residents also complained that the lorries going in and out of the construction site had damaged the roads in the area.

They blamed the project for clogging up the drains and causing flash floods in the area.

"The drainage system is ruined, we never had flooding problems before but now we do," said resident Alimah Arsat.

Another resident R. Indran said the residents were never consulted over the project.

"There was no public hearing and we only learnt about it when the piling work started. The massive project has taken a toll on us and the developer isn't keen to help us."

Resident David Chong said a friend of his, who is a consultant, had told him that there was soil movement beneath his house.

However, when the developer's insurance agent visited his house, he was told that his house was safe to be occupied.

"Until today, I have not been given any documentation to support their claim that my house is safe to be occupied. The developer also has not repaired the cracks in my house," he said.

Also present at yesterday's gathering were Petaling Jaya Utara member of parliament Tony Pua and Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San.